Fitchburg Nazarene Church

Sermon Title

Fitchburg Nazarene Church

September 27, 2015

by

Rev. Charles W. Pendleton, Jr.

(These are the Pastor’s notes. He may have said more which is not noted here. He could have ignored certain portions of these notes in our actual service.)

Matthew 26:6-13

Jesus Anointed at Bethany

6While Jesus was in Bethanyin the home of Simon the Leper,7a woman came to him with an alabaster jar of very expensive perfume, which she poured on his head as he was reclining at the table.

8When the disciples saw this, they were indignant. “Why this waste?” they asked.9“This perfume could have been sold at a high price and the money given to the poor.”

10Aware of this, Jesus said to them,“Why are you bothering this woman? She has done a beautiful thing to me.11The poor you will always have with you,but you will not always have me.12When she poured this perfume on my body, she did it to prepare me for burial.13Truly I tell you, wherever this gospel is preached throughout the world, what she has done will also be told, in memory of her.”

Mark 14:3-9

3While he was in Bethany, reclining at the table in the home of Simon the Leper, a woman came with an alabaster jar of very expensive perfume, made of pure nard. She broke the jar and poured the perfume on his head.

4Some of those present were saying indignantly to one another, “Why this waste of perfume?5It could have been sold for more than a year’s wagesand the money given to the poor.” And they rebuked her harshly.

6“Leave her alone,”said Jesus.“Why are you bothering her? She has done a beautiful thing to me.7The poor you will always have with you,and you can help them any time you want. But you will not always have me.8She did what she could. She poured perfume on my body beforehand to prepare for my burial.9Truly I tell you, wherever the gospel is preached throughout the world, what she has done will also be told, in memory of her.”

John 12:1-8

1Six days before the Passover, Jesus came to Bethany, where Lazarus lived, whom Jesus had raised from the dead.2Here a dinner was given in Jesus’ honor. Martha served, while Lazarus was among those reclining at the table with him.3Then Mary took about a pintof pure nard, an expensive perfume; she poured it on Jesus’ feet and wiped his feet with her hair. And the house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume.

4But one of his disciples, Judas Iscariot, who was later to betray him, objected,5“Why wasn’t this perfume sold and the money given to the poor? It was worth a year’s wages.”6He did not say this because he cared about the poor but because he was a thief; as keeper of the money bag, he used to help himself to what was put into it.

7“Leave her alone,”Jesus replied.“It was intended that she should save this perfume for the day of my burial.8You will always have the poor among you,but you will not always have me.”

(I need:

Simon the Leper

Table (flat on floor)

Jesus

Lazarus

Martha (to serve)

Disciples (children)

Food)

WHAT

• In Bethany (town of Lazarus, Mary & Martha)

• The Home of Simon the Leper

• Reclining at the table

• A woman (Mary, in John – not to be confused with the sinful woman of Luke 7 at the home of a Pharisee)

• Anointed Jesus’ head (feet, in John) significance – perhaps head and feet, or head to toe!)

• Objection/complaint of disciples (Judas, in John) to “the waste”

• Jesus’ reply & commendation

SO WHAT

Well, looking at this story leads careful readers to ask themselves certain questions.

What am I doing for the Kingdom of God?

Am I ever moved to extravagant giving for the Kingdom, or to honor my Redeemer?

Do I see my wealth as my own – or is it available to honor God in some special way?

NOW WHAT

We can walk away from this service and not ask ourselves any of these questions.

Or, in the spirit of this Alabaster Gift that we learned about today, we can make careful preparations to make a memorial gift for the good of the Kingdom.

That’s what the Church of the Nazarene does with their Alabaster Offerings.

We purpose in our hearts to make a special gift to the Kingdom, honoring our Redeemer by using the Alabaster fundsfor missions.

Alabaster funds help provide

land for many Work & Witness projects and the entire Alabaster Offering goes toward the purchase of land and

construction of churches,

schools,

medical facilities, and

homes for missionaries and national workers.

Besides prayer and Faith Promise, this is the best tool we have for impacting holiness evangelism throughout the world.

PRAYER

ALABASTER OFFERING